Mechanism for treating the straw of flax and the like.



MEGHANISM `Por:

A- 13, s. SUMMBRS. l

TREATING THE STRAW 'OF ILAXJAND THE LIKE. APPLIOATTON FILED MAR. 24, 1906 Patnted Dee. 30,1913.

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. B. s. SUMMBRS. I MEGHANISM POR TREATING. THE STRAW O FLX AND THE LIKE. Y `M'IPLIGA'I'IQN FILED MAR. 24,1906.

151182378,- Patented Dec. 30, 19.13.

7 SHEETS-SHEET s.

IHIIIIIIAIIlllllJlllllllllll-IIII-lll B. S. SUMMERS. 'MEGHANISM FOR'TREATING THB STRAW OF FLAX AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24,1906

1,082,778.. Patented Dec. 30, 1.913.

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l lB4. S. SUMMERS. 1

MECHANISM FOR TREATING THB STRAW OF FLAX AND THE LIKE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, '1906. 1,082,'7`78 l Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

n m9, l' v B. s. 'SUMMERS- "MEGHANISMFOR TREATING THE STRAW OP FLAX AND THE LIKE'.

' MPLIUATIQN FILED MAR.24,1906.

` '7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

' l UNITED srairnsgigrnnr .oFFicn BERTRAND S.SUMMERS. OF PORT HUR'ON MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 SUMMERS LINEN COMPANY, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

MECHANISM FOR TREATING THE-STRAW OF FLAX AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

` Application filed March 24, isos. serial No. 307,913.

To all when?. it may concern.:

Be it. known thatl I, BERTRAND S. SUMMBRS, a., 'citizen of the United States, residing at Port Huron, in the count-y of St. Clair and 'State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful Mechanism for Treating tlie. Straw of F lax and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is -to provide Amechanism for breaking the straw of flax,

hemp or the like and switching and cleaning the fiber in a continuous process.

To this end the invention in its complete .embodiment as -herein shown consists in a means for coi'iveying the straw, laid transversely to the direction of motion, continuousl)7 through the machine, a means for 'breaking the wood, or pith, from end to end of the straw, a means for sciitching or 'beating the straw to free the fiber from pith-and a means for subjecting the opposite ends of the straw successively to the action of the beaters. 1

The means for breaking the wood *of the stalk throughout its length without breaking the fiber (while the stalk is fed through' the machine transversely to the direction of mction) constitutes an important feature of my invention. It consists, in the present instance, in a device for 'forming' a series'of sharp bends or crinips in the stalk prcgresV sively from one point to another (preferably from the middle .toward both ends) whereby slack is provided to form each crimp by the free longitudinal motion of the portion of the stalk not yet acted upon by the device.

Another feature of the invention consists in va conveying device for grasping the .broken straw near the'middle and conveying it successively through and past the beaters adapted to act upon the opposite ends.

A further feature of the invention constraw during its passage fromy one beater to the other, for the purpose of exposing to the 1 action of the second beater the portion of 5o, the chain,

the straw guarded from the first beater by i In-the'drawings, Figure l is a side'elevai tion of the complete machine; Fig. 2 a plan (inthe line. A A-fFig. l.; Fig. et a vertical 5 a plan of the grid forming a part ofthe breaking device; Fig. G a vertical crosssection thereof; Fig. 7 is a plan showing a number of the blades copei'ating with the grid for breaking the straw; Fig. 8 a side elevation of the means for operating these blades; 'Figjfl a front elevation of several of the same devices; Fig-10 is a side elevation of a part. of the conveying chain for carrying the straw, showing its engagements with the driving sprocket wheel; Fig. 11 an end elevaticn of the chain; Fig. --12 a perspective View of a link thereof; Fig. 13 an elevation ofthe conveying chain for carry; ing the broken flax through the beaters; Fig. 14 an end elevation of the chain; Fig. -15 a perspective view of a link; Fig. 16 side elevation of the conveying chain, t0- gether with the red' with which it operates to grasp the flax., and the track wliereon the 'chain tra-veis; and Fig. 17 a vertical crosssection of the same.

In the general side elevation and plan I -have indicated the location of the breaking device for the straw at C; of the first. beater at D; of the second beater at E; and of the the partially beaten straw at F.

Referring to the present and. preferred embodiment lof my invention, a moving bed or conveyer, whereon the straw is'to be laid crosswise (unthreshed or with'the seed on) is formed at the left hand end of the ma; chine by the conveyer belts or chains which are herein shown as three in number and of the saine; Fig. 3 'a vertical'cross-section cross-section on the line B B-Fig. 1; Fig.-

device for imparting longitudinal motion tovmarked 1, 2V and 3, Fig. 2.- These belts pass.4

l wheel 14 carried on shaft l5, journaledl in Vthe frame at the extreme right hand end of 'the'machine These parts. are shown-.in

general in Figs. 1 and 2 and indetail in 10, .11 and 12. This 4shaft'l is driven with an intermittent motion by'means of a ratchet wheel 16 and through links 18, leve: 19, rod y 21, connected with a continuously rotating shaft 22, Fig. 1. Thus in the present instance, the intermittent motion from left to right is imparted to the upper reaches of the conveyer chainsV 1, 2 and 3, passing through the breaking apparatus and to the conveyer chain 13, which carries the broken yflax through the beaters.

The breaking' apparatus, which is indi'- cated-in F igs. 1 and 2 at C Consists in general of a grid, along which the conveyer chains. 1, 2 and 3 travel, and a group of blades arranged lengthwise and adapted to enter the recesses or interstices of the grid,

together with mechanism for depressing the blades successively into the recesses of the grid and for raising them therefrom. As

the straw is fed over the grid by the conveyer chains, the blades crush it down into the recesses, crimp'the straw, thereby crackling and crushing the pith and wood. This grid, is seen in Figs. 1 and 5 at 23, while the blades which coperate with it are seen at 24. These parts are seen more clearly p. in Fig. 3 in vertical cross-section, and in Figs.

5 to 9 inclusive in detail. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the grid consists of a frame 23 containing longitudinal bars 25, of rec-- tangular. cross-section. These bars are loosely mounted in the frame, being held therein by bolts 26 passing through them.

Three of the bars are omitted, to make place.

for three rails 28, on which the chains 1, 2

and 3 travel over the grid. The links of the chain are of the same width as one of the grid bars and this top part. or surface comes flush with the top surface of the series of bars comprising the grid, with the exception of the fingers 3 for engaging. the liber or straw and carrying it along. The result of this' construction and arrangement of chains is to enable the chains to serve both as conveyers and grid bars, ashereinafter more particularly explained. The grid, as

a whole, is rigidly supported in the frame of the machine by brackets seen at 29' and 30 in Fig. 1.' The blades 24 are of suitable thickness to 'enter loosely the recesses between the bars '25 of the grid. Each. is pivoted at one end on a spindle 31 (Fig. 1) se-` cured by journals to the frame; and each is acted upon by a spring332 (Figs. 1 and 3), tending to raise it. *j connected near its free end with.A one' end of a toggle link comprising the two members 33, 34, of which the upper member 33 ispiv- Oted upon a spindle 35 secured in the frame 8 and, 9. Lbroken away 'more clearlyothr. parts of themechanism.

pawl 17, operated 20 and crankl ach of the bars v isof the machine, as clearly shown Figs. 3, These toggle Jinks'are shown e-rplan-IFg 2) ...to show The ltogglelinks' 33, 34 are acted upon by two cams, the function f one of which beingto straighten the linkssuccessively, be-

Aginiiig at t e middleofthe group vand p'roceeding therefrom in both directions, thereby thrusting the blades down intothe recesses'of the grid, andthe function of the other cam being to knuckle the straightened links at the proper moment, thereby permitting the retractile springs to withdraw the blades simultaneously clear ofv the grid. The movements of the parts are so arranged, as will be described later, that the depression of the blades begins just after the forward movement of the conveyer 'belt ceases, while the action of the cam,.which raises all the blades, immediately precedes the nekt forward'movement of the chain.. Each linkdepressing cam consists of an arm or bar 36, carrying a roller 37 at its extremity. All the arms 36 are secured upon a Shaft 38 suitably journaled in the 'frame and drivenl by a chain 39 and sprocket wheels 40 and 41, so as to rotate in a clockwise direction. The sprocket wheel` 41 is fixed to the driving 'shaft 42, to which power is applied in suitable manner. With reference tothe middle arm of the group of arms 36,' those to the right and to the left are spaced through equal angles about the shaft. 'to cover about 180, Figs. 1 and 2. As the shaft 38 rotates the. center arm 'of the group of arms 36 is f first to strike a link 33, and thusto depress 'the iniddle blade in the grid. The other atlns to right and to left of the center arm follow in quick succession,l depressing the other blades to the right-and tothe left of the center one into their respective grooves or recesses. This operation is completed in half 'a revolution of the shaft 38. The arms then pass ofi` from the toggle links 3,3, leaving all the links straightened and, for the reason that the three .pivots of the two links are then in line, thev linksmaintain the positions of the blades, notwithstanding the retractile efforts of the springs 32. A.The other cam acting uv on these links is a long roller 43, whose'en. s are pivoted in cranks 44, carried on a shaft 45, ljournaled in the frame and driven by sprocket wheel 47, chain 48 and vsprocket 49 fixed to 'shaft 38.-- The cranks 44 are so fixed upon the shaft that the rollerv 43 is brought into engagement with the undersides of links ,33 immediate-ly after the arms 36 are clear of the links; in its further rotation the roller knuckles the links, whichbeing no longer4 on dead centers permit the springs 32 to simultaneously` retract the blades with which ,they 'are respectivelyconnected. Itwill be understood V that durin g this. breaking operation-the con- I dle portion and veyer chainsor belts 1, 2 and 3 are in their.

period of rest but are timed to advance after the depressible blades 24 are released from the grid. It will be understood that V- the breaking of the straw upon the breaking surface or grid is accomplished by repeated and successive blows beginning a-t the midboth directions. By reason of the construction and arrangement herein. shown, each portion receives at the same points a large number of blows or impacts from the blades as the straw passes horizontally over the grid, inasmuch 'as the complete cycle of movement of the blades and cams is re-` peated many times before thestraw'has passed beyond their range of action on the grid, so that the straw is properly and efr' fectuallybroken and treated for 'the particular purpose. After passing the `breaking apparatus the broken Straw is delivered to another conveyor chain, before referred to', indicated at 13 in the drawing. This chain passes around the sprocket wheel 12 on the same shaft 11 with wheels 8, 9, 10 (see Fig. 3) and extends therefrom to the right hand end of the machine, where, as

before mentioned, it passes .around wheel`14,`

ywhile the beaters operate upon4 it. The conl struction of the chain is shown in detail in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, while the related parts,

y. constituting with it the means for holding of supp the straw, are shown in Figs. 16 and 17.'

Each link (Fig. 15) is provided with upwardlyextendingprongs 51, adapted to embrace around rod 52, which is rigidly fixed to the frame of the machine by means orts 53.- The parts 50 of the chain are nnlted, as usual', by links 54.` The chain passes over a rail (Fig. 16), which is vyieldingly supported in a bracket 56 secured to the frame, and which is strongly pressed lfpward by spring 57. As will be seen in Fig. 1,-this track or rail55 extends from close proximity to the wheel 12 to the right hand end of the machine near the wheel 14 and is supported at intervals by'brackets 56. The rod 52 is not continuous, however, but is 'interrupted at the point 52 (Fig..2) where its lend is bent upward, as shown at- 58 (Fig. 16). Beyond the gap a similar rod 59 is arranged, which ends at the sprocket wheel 14. These parts thus con stitute a mechanism capable of grasping,V holding and conveying from the middle to the end of the machine' the materials delivered to the chain at its left hand extremity. At thatl point each link upon leaving the 4sprocket Wheel in the plane of the bed of .along by the progressing outwardly in.

4than that of the chain.

1 the machine comes in to an engagement with the curved extremity 5,8 of the rod 52 and rides along lwith pressure against it, or

against the intervening material until it reaches the 4gap 52, atwhich pointthe material is released; butl it is carried loosely prongs 51 ofthe chain into engagement with the second similar rod 59 and thus to the endof the machine. At F, as indicated in'plan, (Fig. 2) near the gap in the retainingrod is placed a device forimparting a limited longitudinal motion tothe straw. This consists in the present instance, 4of a pulley-60 and a belt 61, passing around it and around idlers '62 in horizontal planes to a driving pulley 63 upon theshaft'15. The pulley 60 is mounted on the end of a shaft 63, journaledin the frame at an angle whereby the upper reach of thel belt 61 is caused to travell in the same general direction with it, but laterally away from the conveyer chain 13. This travel is intermittent, corresponding with the travel of t-he chain, and is somewhat more rapid At the point where the fiberis picked up by the belt 61 a belt- 61a is provided on' the opposite side of thechain, running on an idler 61b and over a pulley 61c fixed to the shaft 15. The plane of .the upper vreach of this belt is slightly above the plane ofthe chain, so that the 4pulley 61a raises the fiber clear from the teethuof the chain which might become entangled .with it during its longitudinal movement; subsequently the belt 61a assists in conveying the liber forward. At D and E are located beaters 64,. 65. As clearly Shown in Fig. 4, the beaterD consists of a hub 66, whereon are mounted radial curved arms or blades 67, which sweep alongside of the chain 13 in close proximity thereto.

An apron or scntching board is placed on each side of the chain to prevent the material from being swept by the beaters out of reach-of, the arms. The face of the hub is covered by a plat-e 68 Hush with the arms. The hub 64 is carried upon a shaft 69, journaled in the frame and driven by pulley 70. belt 71 and counter-shaft 72, which is itself driven by belt 73 from the main shaft 42. The other beater E is similarly constructed, and is driven by a belt 74 from a pulley on the same countersbaft72. A

The scutching board which is provided for cach beater or scutching wheel coperates therewith for the purpose of holding the material, that is the straw or its hank in` position to be struck by thc arms of the beaten'that is the board keeps such material within the path of rotation of the arms. As above stated, each scutching board is placed on each's'ide of its chain, that is above and below' the same, the board being made in two parts or sections forming a horizontal slot between them at the level of the chain for the passage of the straw past the beat;v ers. This scutching board is so constructed as to .extend across-the -fa'ce of the beater or scutching wheel" and'v itsdimensions therefore equal or exceed the diameter of the wheel. This'scutching board thus forms two beating zones, one located below the plane of the l; chain or the axis of rotation of the beate' Land the other located thereabove, with arl/intermediate or neutrall zone located at such axis of the beater or scutchingwheel, it

being understood that the' straw or bank is from shaft 45, which is itself driven from shaft 38, ,driven turn from the Amain shaft 42.

A in the operation lof the machine the straw, lof approximately uniform length, -is -laid crosswise on the chains '1, 2 and 3 in a thin and fairly uniform bed.` As the chains are Amoved along step lby step the straw vis carried-to and upon thegrid, it being borne in mind, that, the forward lnotlon of fthe com veyer chains t'akesplace when the blades are elevated. 'Immediately after the 'straw 1s thus Ibrought in to place -the. blades are thrown down uponit, in the mannerhereinbefore described, the ,middle one rst andthe others'to'right and left in quick succession thereafterl vEach blade as it strikes the straw crushes''nd presses thelatter into the vrecess"fo'iiiled between the two adj a'cent bars The wood and pith of the l"straw is `thus broken, crushed and loosened from the ber'.

straw the latter is vfixed at the point where lthe preceding blade has engagedit, but is .tree at the end; hence the or'tear the ber.

When each blade strikes the blade the straw finds slack forl the crimp or bend which it produces in thrusting the'straw into A the recess of the grid, and does not put a ber itself, tending to break In thi operation of breaking the straw or ber, the three conveyer chains act as and grid bars, inasmuch as the ber is broken over the chains in the same manner as over the grid b ars. The particular oonveyers which may betermed the break conveystrain upon the ers thus possess a double function, that of conveyer and of grid bars. At each revolution of the'shaft 38, every stalk on the bed of the breaking appliance is subjected to a series of breaking and'crushing operations proceeding from the middle of the stalk outward to its ends, which leaves the bers intact and the wood and pith broken and more chains to the 4point where this point the straw,

:13 and the cleaned veye'd past -the last striking ofthe straw by t are equivalent 4 to three` orilessdetached-fronr ber. The bedof broken straw is conveyedtgtep by step by the it is vdelivered to the chain 13, near-the middle of the machine. At that point the layer of straw'is seized and held near the middle of the stalks between the links 50 and the rod 52; and by the moving links is carriedup to and past--` the beater out the loosened pith and wood in the ber,

'leaving the latter clean and. unbroken. It

will be observed that the scu'tching wheel or beater beats up' approaches the wheel, but subsequently beats down upon itafter the ber has been conveyed across the diameter or'neutral zone of 'the wheel and is' about to-,leaverthe scutcher.-

Thus, in one continuous passage of the hank ofber across the diameter sides without the vaid of the reversal of the position of the hank which is customaryuin hand scutching.- After passing the beater at D the chain bringsthe straw near its right hand end to the gap in the upper rod 52. Up to has been dragging along onthe longitudinal bars o f the` bed, as shown at 76 (Fig. 4) 'At this point the stalks drag conveyer chain, and while the hold of the rod 52 is relaxed, the belt 61 imparts asli ht longitudinal motionto the body of the ax, dragging it aside, so that the part which has been crackled but not cleaned is dra ged out of engagement with the conveyer c ain ber is brought over the D. The arms of the beater thresh upon the ber as thelatter y of the scutching wheel, the hank of ber is beaten upon both Vupon 'the belt 61, trending'away-from the- A chain. When a sufficient displacement has j thus been. produced the `Chain carries the cleaned ber under the upturned end of the rod 59,whereby the mass of ax is again grasped and s ecurelyheld while it is consecond. `beater E. At 'this beater, it will be observed, the hitherto unclcaned end ofthe iax is .threshed and cleaned. After passingthis beater the ber, cleaned-throughout its length, is delivered bythe chain at the end of the machine. Although any bed or surface' suitable for obtaining the pro er breakin ve describe action of the blades is within the scope-of my invention, I prefer. to employ the grid lfor such purpose. inasmuch as this particular construction permits the pith or wood which may become detached from the ber to fall clear through the bed or surface, because'the openings.` or nterstices extend all the, way grid. f I claim: v

1. In a machine of the class described, means for breaking the straw by successive and crushing v through the impacts along the length thereof comprising v agrooved surface, a plurality -of blades of and vto strike the straw transversely and means for first operating *the center blade 2. In a machine of the class described, means for breaking the straw by successive impacts along the length thereof comprising a grooved surface, a plurality of blades adapted to coperate with the grooves thereof and to st-rike the straw transversely,'said blades being normally held away from said surface with a yielding pressure, and means for moving the blades successively against said surface to break the straw.

Y In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a'grid, of a plurality of separately actuated blades adapted to'cooperate therewith, means for conveying the straw across and upon the grid, and means for depressing the blades consecutively upon the grid from the center outwardly.

4. -In a machine of the class described, thev combination of a grid having longitudinal i grooves or spaces in its upper surface, a

plurality of separately actuated blades adapted to register with said grooves, and

- means for conveying the straw across and 'i allel with the blades,

the combination of a of a plurality of bladesupon the grid, means for moving the blades consecutively to register with 'and force the straw into said grooves, the center blade being operated first andthe other successively from center outwardly.

v 5. In a'machine of the class described, the combination of a grid having longitudinal grooves or spaces in its upper surface, a plurality of separately actuated blades adapted toregister with said grooves, means for depressing the blades consecutively into the grooves, beginning with the center blade and progressing outwardly in both directions, and a conveyer adapted to hold the strawv transversely to the said blades and grooves and to convey it in a direction paras described. 6. In a machine of grid having grooves in its Vupper surface, adapted to register with said grooves, means for normally holding the blades clear of the grooves, and means for moving the blades into the grooves.l

7. In amachine of the class described, the combination with la grid having grooves in its upper surface,'of 'a plurality of blades adapted to register with said grooves, means for withdrawingv the blades clear of the grooves, and means for thrusting the blades into the grooves consecutively vin both di-l the class d'escribed blades intov the grooves in consecutive order from the middle blade outwardly in both directions, conveyer traveling on said track for conveying the straw through the machine.

9. In a machine of the class described, theconibination of a grid having grooves in its upper surface, of a plurality of blades adapted to register for depressing the blades into the grooves and controlling the operation thereof comprising toggles connected with the blades and mechanism for breaking and straightening the toggles. Y

10. In a machine of the class described, the'combination of a grid having grooves in its upper surface, of a plurality of blades adapted to. register with said grooves, means for depressing the blades into the grooves and controlling the operation thereof comprising a plurality of separate toggles connected withV the blades, and a rotatable universal bar arranged to coperate with all the, toggles and' break the knuckles thereof.

1l. In a machineof the class described, the combination of a grid having rooves in its upper surface, of a plurality ofgblades adapted to register withsaid grooves,`means for depressing the blades into the grooves and controlling the operation thereof comprising a plurality of separate toggles connectedV with the blades, a rotatable universal ,bar arranged ,to cooperate with all the 'toggles and break the knuckles thereof and springs connected with the blades for withdrawing them from the grid when their toggle knuckles are broken.

l2. In a machine of the class described, the combination bf a grid having grooves in its upper surface, a plurality of blades adapted to register with said grooves, and pivoted at one end above the plane of the grid to permit the feeding of the straw thereover, a'plurality' of toggles connected with the otherend of the blades, and means for intermittently breaking and straightening the toggles. 4

13.` In a machine of the class described, the combination of a grid having grooves in its upper surface, of a plurality of blades adapted toregister'with said grooves, means for depressing' the in consecutive order from themiddle blade outwardly in both directions and controlling the operation thereof comprising tog-V gles connected with the blades, a series of actuating devices adapted to straighten the several toggles'in successive order beginning with the center blade and progressing outwardly and thereby depress the blades successively, and means for feeding the straw across the grid.

14. In a machine of the class described,

blades into the grooves with said grooves, means the combination of a grid having grooves in itsupper surface, of a plurality of `blades adapted :te register with said grooves, means for ldepressing he blades into the grooves beginning. withy the center blade andpro gressing outwardly and controlling the operation thereof comprising. to gles connected with the blades, a series o rotatable actuating arms'on a common axis but spaced at different angles relative. thereto so as to operate their toggles at different times and means for feeding the straw across the grid. 15. In a machine of the class described, the. combination of agrid having. grooves infits upper surface, of aV plurality of blades adapted to register with said grooves, means for depressing the blades into the grooves and controlling the operation there ofvcomprising toggles connected with the blades, and a-series of rotatable actuating armson a commonl axis but spaced at different angles relative thereto so as to operate their toggles at'ditfcrent times, the middle arm being arranged to operate its toggles first and the arms onboth-sides beingarrangedto thereafter operate theirtog-f gles iii-successive order.

16. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination of a breaking. grid, a plurality of blades coperatingtherewith to t break the straw fed across it, means' for normally holding; the blades clear of the rid with a yielding pressure, and means or thrusting the blades downwardly toward the grid against .suchyielding pressure. f

17. In a machine oftheclass described, the combination of agrid having Grooves in its upper surface, of af plurality ofD blades' adapted to reglster with said grooves, means for depressing the blades into the grooves in consecutive order from the middle blade 'outwardly in both directions, and controlling the operation thereof comprising togleslconnected with' the blades, and a series of. actuating devices adapted to straighten the several toggles in 'successive order beginning with'the center blade and progressingV outwardly, blades successively, and means for feeding the straw across thel grid.

18. Ina machine ofthe class described, the combination of a in its upper surface, of a plurality of blades adapted to register with said grooves, means for depressing the blades into thegrooves beginning with l outwa dly, and ther of comprising. the blades, anda series of'rotatable actuating arms ona-connmon'A axis controlling. the operationerate their toggles at different times, and

means for feeding the straw across the grid,"

rality y of -blades arranged .to coperatie thereand thereby depress the grid having groovesI the lcenter blade progressing' toggles lconnected withi but spaced at- /60 differentangles relative-thereto so as-to -ope with to breakthestraw and pivoted on'an axis located above l means for normally l of the gridwith a yielding pressure, and

means for thrusting tlie blades-downwardly. toward the grid against said yielding pres-l SLIIQ.

' 20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a grid having longitudinal grooves vor blades arranged' to coperate therewith to break thel straw, said blades being `pivoted above the plane of the' gridA and adapt-ed to oscillate 'in parallel vertical-planes,` a series4 of separate springs for. normally holdling the blades clear -ofthe grid, and a series of cams fondriving-.fthe blades-down- {wardly in -consecutiveprdem 22. In a'machine of'. theclase-described,

the combination with Athe:grid-having lonthe 1 blades,

connections for. operating said blades to nal groovesl or channels, a plurality of Igitudinal grooves orchannels, ofla pluralityof blades, aseries `of retractile--springs for'- and= aplurality' of cams and drive them- 'intor fthe grooves, beginningA .with

the plane Lof the grid, holding the blades clear breakthe straw, a series ofseparate springs.

.the blades clear "of the combination ofa gridhaving.lengitudl channels, a pluralityof'- 23'. In aAl machine. oftheclass described, v

the combination -with thebed, of a-.plu-raled with each lade'adapted when'v straight-- cned to thrustl the series of 'cams-adapted@ engage said links adapted to operate on said links when the blades.

24. In -aymachine connected therewith, and the rotating. cams, said cams being'adapted to engage the middle linkfix-stand the links at each side thereof. consecutivelyV straw i froml the middle toward 'both ends.

2,5. In a machinefof the combination .with the breaking .bed and the. breaking. blades, 'and the` cams and connections for operating .said blades to depress them against the bed consecutively and'in both direct-ions from the center of a.` cons veyerchain adapt-edto feed the straw. across the bed, and.

mechanism .for operating. ther driving .mech

ity ofbreakinggjolades, a-toggle link. con-nectblade againstv the: bed, a``

consecutively. to vstraighten them,- and a cam A straightened 2 to knuckle them fpr -releasing. of' the class described,-

'th-e combina-tiem with thef breaking. bed,l oflv the pivoted breaking blades, the toggle linksthe class described,.

intermittent-1 driving L mecha.` nismfor the chain. connections from thev source. of power oftheblade-operating ies thereafter to crush the the combination of a horizontal conveyer,

beaters adapted to separately beat the two opposite end portions of the straw and arranged one in advance of the other on -opposite sides of the middle line of the conveyer, means for gripping the straw toward its central portion while being acted upon by the beaters and` wholly releasing the straw the combination of means for moving '-tiber during the machine.

27. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal conveyer consisting ofa vsingle chain, beaters adapted to beat the two opposite end portions of the strawand arranged one in advance of the other on opposite sides of the chain, means for gripping the straw toward the central portion while being acted upon by t-he beaters but wholly releasing the straw during its travel between the beaters, and .the straw transversely of the machine while released..

2S. The co-mbination with the grooved conveyer chain, of the longitudinal bars' engaging thelinks ofthe chain and adapted to eng-age the fibrous material, said bars being separated at theirproximate ends lto wholly release such material and to permit free nio-vement thereof, and means operating on the fiber while released and adapted to move it lengthwise.

29. In a machine the combination with thebrealng bed and the breaking blades,and"the cams and connectionsfor operating said blades to depress them against the bed consecutively and in both directions from the center of a conveyer chain adapted to feed the straw across the bed, and intermittent driving mechamsm for the cham connections from the source of mechanism anisnrwith. the blades in raised position, the center blade being operated first and the remainder in successive order in opposite directions.

30. The combination of a breaking device folbreaking the fiber, a. breaker conveyer for carrying the fiber through said breaking device, a second or. beater conveyer, a pair of beaters adapted' to beat the and arranged inthe same horizontal plane, means for clamping the liber to said power of the" blade-operating beater conveyer, but wholly releasing .the

same after beating action, and an auxiliary conveyer trending in fan oblique direction with respect to the beater beater conveyer.

its travelbetween the beaters, and means for moving the straw transversely of ofthe class described,.

for operating the driving mech.

conveyer,

'for moving the straw longitudin. whereby the fiber is moved crosswise to such 31. In a'machine of the class described, the combination with a conveying device adapted to engage the straw near its middle and to hold it crosswise with respect to its direction of motion, of two beaters on opposite sides of said conveying device adapted to operate upon opposite ends of the straw consecutively," said beaters being arranged in the same horizontal plane and one in advance of the other, and means for impartingslight longitudinal motion to the straw in its passage between the beaters, said conveying device wholly releasing the straw at the tim of said longitudinal action.

32. In combination, the conveyer chain and the grooved bar adapted to grasp the broken straw,the beater adapted to operatev upon one end of the straw, a second -bar engaging the chain, means for wholly releasing the straw for a period after passing the lirst beater to enable the straw to move 4longitudinally freely, an obliquely trending conveyer adapted to engage the straw when released to move it lengthwise, a second bar adapted to engage the straw after its release, and a. second beater said chain, being adapted to clean the other end of the straw as described.

33. 'In a machine of the class described, the combination of a conveyer chain, bars arranged longitudinally thereof adaptedto clamp the fibrous material to said conveyer,

on the opposite side of fra said bars being separated attlieir proxi- Y mate ends to cause an' entire release of said fibrous materiall at straw to move longitudinally freely, an auxiliary conveyer trending in ai direction oblique to said first named conveyer and adapted to engage suchffbrousmaterial when the latter reaches said separation or gap between the bars, and 'two beaters 'arranged to beat lthe 'opposite ends of the fibrous material and arranged at different points in the travel of the fibrous materia-l, one beater being arranged rearwardly andy the other forwardly of said obliqely trendi in g conveyer.

. 34. The combination with a conveying device for conveying the straw th ough the machine, of means for breaking t e straw,

and ali-auxiliary conveyer trending in Van oblique `direction to said conveyingr device for moving the straw longitudinally with respect to said 'conveying device, and means for elevating the'straw so tially free of its conveying ing somoved longitudinall 35. The combination with a conveying device for conveying the straw through the machine, of meansfor breaking the'straw, and an'a'uxiliary conveyer trending in an oblique direction tosaid conveying device ly with respect to said conveying device, and means for; elevating the stra-w so as to be substansuch pointftdenable the as t9 be substandevice while be..

a i i 1,082,778

ktially' free of its conveying device While beto break the straw and pivoted at one end ing so moved longitudinally comprising a above the plane of the grid to permit the 1Q third conveyei arranged at one side of said feeding' of the straw thereover, and means conveying device and adapted to yelevate the for operating said blades.

straw slightly above said conveying device. BERTRAN) S. SUWMERS.

36. In a machine of the class described,v Witnesses: the combination of a grid, a plurality of E. S. POST,

blades adaptedv tovcoperate with said grid En. J. RoDGEns.' 

